Shopping for a Purple Coat
Purple is one of those rare colors that flatters every skin tone and never goes out of style, making shopping for a purple coat very important to any fashion lover. Ranging from subtle lilacs to strong eggplant shades, purple is a great way to infuse a shot of color into drab winter wardrobes without being too loud. When shopping for a purple coat, consider your personal style and what is already in your wardrobe so that you get maximum wear out of the coat. Look to these tips and recommended products while you're on the hunt for the perfect purple topper.
Casual Coats
Since purple is such a regal color, it instantly elevates an otherwise boring and predictable puffer or casual winter jacket. Take the London Fog Quilted Hooded Down Puffer, for instance. On sale at Macy's at press time for $129.99, it features a mid-thigh length, slim silhouette, faux fur trim a the hood, and a rich eggplant hue with a subtle sheen. The result is an elegant, dark purple that can act, surprisingly, as a neutral, and it would work wonderfully with denim and work clothes alike. The Style & co. Faux Fur Trim Hooded Puffer is an extremely budget-friendly option at $79 and features a richer purple with more blue undertones, true to a dark "grape" shade. The hip-length puffer features a box quilted construction and faux fur at the hood.
Sporty jackets are a great opportunity to incorporate color. The North Face offers several styles of fleece and down jackets in rich shades of grape and berry. The Apex Bionic Jacket, $129, is a fleece shell available in many colors, including "gravity purple." The Redpoint Jacket, $149, can be worn as a standalone jacket or as a zip-in liner for outer shells and is also available in gravity purple. The Aconcagua Jacket, $149, offers a rich sheen making the purple truly pop.
Formal Coats
Purple wool coats are more versatile, since the entire piece can be one color or can feature purple as a color woven into a pattern, making it subtler. Anthropologie's Umbered Houndstooth Coat, $298, is a vintage-inspired piece with a boucle-like texture, so the purple is quite subtle and very wearable. The faux-fur collar top completes the look.
Wool coats that are single or double-breasted are timeless, and purple is a popular color offered by manufacturers as something different from camel or black. You'll want to look for a high quality wool or cashmere blend for durability, but if budget is an issue, stores like Old Navy, Target, H&M, and Delia's regularly sell purple wool and wool-blend coats every season that rival the looks of high-end designer brands. Decide whether you like the look of tonal buttons, or if you like the the buttons to be a different color for the sake of contrast. Also, look for coats with princess seams or tailoring especially at the waist; purple wool coats that are too big or wide end up looking sloppy and cheap.
Accessorizing Purple Coats
Keep your accessories in mind, especially winter accessories like scarves, hats, and mittens. If your coat is patterned, opt for solid accessories, and vice versa; patterned accessories can make a solid purple coat pop.
